April 15, 2016
Inspired Learners                       
Earn and Give at Webb
Webb third-grade teacher Beatrice Davis was at home typing up a lesson plan one evening when she noticed four words in her social-studies curriculum: earn, save, spend and donate. What followed was one of those a-ha moments. Her plan: use those four words to make learning fun and meaningful by tying in a community-service portion to the lesson. Webb Elementary students pose by the critical needs items they donated to the Arlington Life Shelter as a result of the school's Earn, Save, Spend and Donate project.
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Engaged Community                            
Wildlife at Thornton    
No matter how many times Toni Purnell addresses schools about the lives of wild animals - and as education coordinator of the Texas Wildlife Association there have been dozens of times - she always gets a question she hasn't heard before. Like the question from a curious Thornton Elementary first grader who recently asked, "If a snake doesn't have legs, how does it walk?" Students perked up to hear the answer during Thornton's Family Science Night in the school cafeteria, and Purnell told them that some pythons and boa constrictors actually do have small vestigial legs beneath their skin. | Wildlife educator Toni Purnell shares an animal skull with Thornton Elementary students at the school's Family Science Night.

Engaged Community                            
Remembering a Teacher  
Whenever there was a need for volunteers, it was a sure bet that Glenetrice Austin would be one of the first to raise her hand, especially if it involved her students at South Davis Elementary. "One sure thing you could say about Glenetrice is that she really cared about her kids here at South Davis," said Tamara Butts, a South Davis instructional coach and one of Austin's close friends. Shortly before Spring Break, teachers, staff and students found a way to remember Austin, who died in September of 2014 after a long battle with cancer. They planted and dedicated a tree in her name. The tree is on the south side of the school building by the parking lot. | Teachers and current and former students gathered on a rainy March day to plant and dedicate a tree in front of South Davis Elementary for late sixth-grade teacher Glenetrice Austin.
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Inspired Learners                            
Rugby Warriors
When Luciano M. was playing ball with his dad as a little boy, he wasn't tossing around a football, fielding grounders or playing H.O.R.S.E. on a basketball court. He was learning the game of rugby. While the sport takes a back seat to several other higher profile sports in the United States, it's a much bigger deal in South Africa. "My dad played for, like, over 40 years," Luciano said. One of the first things the Martin freshman did once he got settled into the school was seek out a sponsor to start a Martin Rugby Club. | Martin Rugby Club player Ali A. outmaneuvers a defender during practice.
News Briefs
AISD Parent Survey Available Until April 29
The AISD is working each day to provide a great place for students to learn, for teachers to teach, for all employees to work and for parents to send their children for an excellent education. Please take a few minutes to complete a parent satisfaction survey.
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Super Saver Fun Run 1 mile and 5K May 7 at River Legacy
The AISD 3rd Annual Super Saver Fun Run (formerly the Earth Day Fun Run) benefiting the AISD Energy Management Program activity fund will be on Saturday, May 7, at River Legacy Park.
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Upcoming Events
April 15: End of the fifth grading period
April 21: The Board of Trustees will meet in a work session
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AISD Achieving Excellence is produced weekly by the AISD communications department.

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